SPOTTED: Tommee Tippee knows breasts!

Even in the NICU, I’m famous for my passion for breastfeeding! I was so excited to hear that one of my favorite brands, Tommee Tippee, was launching their very own breastfeeding line. I couldn’t wait to check it out. This brand is known for their intuitive thinking and they did not disappoint!

The first thing I notice was their breast pump shield. I noticed immediately that it was a compression breast pump and I was excited! This was all the rage in the lactation community. The buzz is that it most mimics baby’s nature nursing action. This is one of the first mass-market compression breast pump that I’ve seen. It is made from the same super soft silicone used in their bottle nipples. What stands out is that it truly is a one fit for all breast pump shield. One of the most misunderstood issues I’ve seen with my patient’s breast pump usage is fit. Most don’t realize that the flanges comes in a variety of sizes to accommodate varying areolar sizes. The Tommee Tippee breastpump eliminates this problem with it’s soft silicone breast shield. It can be most similarly compared to Medela’s Soft Fit shields, but the fact that it is a true compression shield edges out it’s competition.

What I love most about Tommee Tippee is that they completely think through their products. Both the Electric Breast Pump System and Manual Breast Pump System comes with everything you need to start successfully breastfeeding. Included straight out of the box is the breast pump, bottle, stand, protection lid and nipple. Also included are protection pots, a set of disposable breast pads and a handy sterilizing box that doubles as a carrying case. The pods do double duty as breast milk storage and during the early months of breastfeeding, can be pumped directly into. You can simply add warm water to the bottle, pop in the pod to warm up and twist on a nipple for fast, easy feedings. I love the small size of the electric breast pump. It puts it on par with the Medela Freestyle.

I was a little skeptical about the 4 adjustable settings compared to the Medela Freestyle’s 9 but I found it really made no difference for me. Although I have to make the disclaimer that I always use the highest setting. The soft massaging of the Tommee Tippee took some getting use to for me but it was very comfortable and soft. At $149.99, it’s an incredible price for an electric breast pump system. My only complaint is that it’s not a double pump system. I hear it’s in the works though and I can’t wait! The Manual Breast Pump System is $46.99.

The only nipple shields that I have been familiar with are the Medela nipple shields and while I use them often in the NICU, I am always hesitant to recommend them to my patients. They just look awkward and abnormal on my patients but they do what they need to do! The first thing I noticed about the Tommee Tippee Nipple Shields is the unique shape. Not a complete circle like the Medela version, it was more naturally shaped and actually the shape we’ve often cut and contoured the Medela versions in the hospital for a more natural fit. Another noticeable difference is the larger slits which allow more air circulation, skin to skin contact and no more milk pooling. The $12.99 price tag also includes a handy carrying case that can be used to sterilized them as well.

I have most recently started considering the need for a feeding wrap. In the 3 and a half years I have been breastfeeding I have never had the need to have one. I consider myself quite lucky to have such a long streak but recently at a wedding where there was no private place to nurse and an outfit that didn’t accommodate public nursing I reconciled with the need to invest in one. I didn’t have to look far to find one. Tommee Tippee just introduced their first feeding wrap. They don’t differ much from others on the market but they do include a soft terry lining for wiping baby and you. Folded up, it’s small and compact enough to carry in our diaper bag if the situation ever presents itself again, a need to nurse discreetly in public, I’ll be prepared!

Suzanne is student, daughter, wife, (labor & delivery) certified registered nurse, certified lactation counselor, friend, entrepreneur and blogger – but the job she's most proud of is mother… She shares her journey on this blog and The Disney Files.
Read more about her here.